Djokovic has reached 16 finals in a row since losing in the quarter-finals of last year’s Qatar Open and seems to be on a completely different level to everyone else in the men’s game.
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Melbourne, Jan.10: After suffering defeat at the hands of World number one Novak Djokovic in the title clash of the Qatar Open, Rafael Nadal has delivered the highest praise to the former.
“I pretty much played ideal tennis from the start”, Djokovic said of the duo’s 47th meeting, a record for rivalries.
The world number one cruised to a 6-1 6-2 triumph at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex to secure the 60th ATP tour title of his career, as he continues his preparations for the Australian Open that is due to get under way later this month. “I came out on the court with the right intention, right intensity, and with a great deal of confidence I carried from the last season”.
Nadal took until the fourth game to get on the scoreboard but it proved only a brief respite as Djokovic breezed through the first set in 30 minutes.
Any hope of a typical comeback from Nadal was fully extinguished in the fifth game when Djokovic broke a second time to go 4-1 ahead.
“I don’t see it as a hindrance, possible hindrance for (the) Australian Open”. The first set lasted only 35 minutes as Djokovic sped away with a 3-0 lead, breaking Nadal’s first service game. Obviously knowing that I can play a match makes me feel relieved a bit, but it’s a little issue that has been there for most of this week.
Rafael Nadal has labelled Novak Djokovic the best player he has ever seen. The last time Djokovic had won a set 6-1 against Nadal was back in 2009 in the Cincinnati Masters semi-finals. “Since I know this sport I never saw somebody playing at this level”.
Having already captured five Australian Open titles (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015), Djokovic is the massive favourite to reign supreme once again at Melbourne Park.
“Playing Rafa, who is one of my greatest rivals, who I have played in so many big matches, is always a challenge, no matter where we play”, he said.
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“And Australia is a different story, different conditions”.
